SHARP HOME

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Keeping your cool -- literally

With an increase in the number of
reports that predict that Canada’s summers will only get hotter, it’s a good
idea to make sure that you have a strategy for keeping cool. When you can help
it, reducing your use of air conditioning (whether by raising the temperature
of your thermostat, or by limiting air conditioner use to certain times of day)
will undoubtedly save substantial amounts of money, but you’ll need to find
alternative ways to keep cool. Some of these tried and true methods include:

1)Hydrate – because drinking water is such a
simple solution, and because it is prescribed as a way to alleviate just about
any problem under the sun (pun intended), we often take for granted just how
effective it can be. However, the reality is that drinking water is one of the
best ways to cool off. This is because the water entering your system is much
lower in temperature than your own body temperature, and will need to be warmed
using your body heat.

2)Ice – placing a large block of ice in front of a
fan may not be the best way to cool a 2400 square foot home, but it is a very
effective way to cool off a single room.

3)Spritz – keeping a spray bottle filled with
water beside your sleeping area and misting yourself frequently will help your
body to cool off significantly; especially applied to vascular parts of your
body like your forearms.

4)Linen – consider bedding and clothing made of
linen during the summer months. Linen actually wicks moisture away, keeping you
cool and dry. It also has the added benefit of antimicrobial properties.

5)Bathe – take colder showers than you are used
to. This will actually cool your core.

Also remember that if your
central air conditioning system malfunctions, it may be covered for repair by
your home insurance policy. It would be a good idea to verify this beforehand,
so that if and when you find yourself in such a circumstance, you have a plan
of action.